Capital murder trial to begin for Trevor McEuen
A man accused of killing his neighbor goes to trial this morning in Kaufman County. The trial was delayed earlier this year when Trevor McEuen cut off his ankle monitor and went into hiding. He was arrested after nearly a month-long manhunt.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas – The capital murder trial for a North Texas man accused of fatally shooting his neighbor is set to begin today in Kaufman County, months after the suspect allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and fled, leading to a month-long manhunt.
Trevor McEuen, 33, faces charges including capital murder, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and arson. Jury selection was completed last week, and the trial is expected to focus on the May 1, 2023, death of his neighbor, Aaron Martinez, 35, in Forney.
Investigators say McEuen shot Martinez multiple times and later admitted to the crime following a SWAT standoff.
Capital Murder Trial
The backstory:
McEuen was originally scheduled to appear in court on May 5 for the start of his capital murder trial. Instead, authorities say he removed his court-ordered ankle monitor at 5:33 a.m. that morning and disappeared in Van Zandt County. He is also accused of setting the house on fire before officers arrived.
The manhunt ended nearly a month later in the early morning hours of June 2 at his grandparents’ home near Grand Saline in Van Zandt County. Kaufman County Sheriff Bryan Beavers said McEuen was captured after an hours-long standoff and was found hiding in a muddy hole beneath the house.
Victim’s family reacts to Trevor McEuen’s capture
Aaron Martinez’s father, along with attorney Carlos Quintanilla, react to the news that capital murder suspect Trevor McEuen has been captured. McEuen allegedly cut off his ankle monitor on the morning before his trial and has been on the run for about a month.
McEuen was awaiting trial and staying with relatives in Van Zandt County after posting a $2 million bond in December 2024. He had previously posted a $2 million bond in September 2024 but was arrested a week later for violating his release terms. During his periods out on bond, Martinez’s family held community events to raise awareness and accused McEuen of harassing them.
Escaped capital murder suspect arrested
A North Texas murder suspect who removed his ankle monitor and did not show up for his murder trial in May has been captured. Kaufman County Sheriff Bryan Beavers says 32-year-old Trevor McEuen is in custody after a month-long search.
RELATED STORY: North Texas fugitive cut hole in closet to hide beneath grandmother’s house, sheriff says
What’s next:
He is facing capital murder, four counts of aggravated assault of a deadly weapon, and arson.
Jury selection started last week and the trial begins this morning.
The judge will not allow cameras inside the courtroom, but FOX 4 News will have a reporter inside.
The Source: Information in this article came from the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, the Martinez family, and previous FOX 4 News coverage.